Eli Newell (He/Him)

International Agriculture & Rural Development Student, Cornell University
  • People
  • United States of America
Lucas Wolman

Student, Trinity Hall, Cambridge

Hello hello, I am a 2nd year undergrad at Trinity Hall, Cambridge studing engineering. So far I'd say I've taken a major interest in structures, having spent my gap year working at Arup. I am hugely passionate about sustainability and what changes can we make to the built environment to reduce our impact and preserve our world for generations to come. From our mobility to our dwellings, our food, and our clothes I am fascinated by the changes we can make to tackle the climate crisis and leave the world in a better place than we found it. (It would also help if BP didn't dump countless barrels of oil in the sea too, I guess). We urgently need to set about fixing the damage that has been done to our environment, promote social mobility, bring greater circularity into our economic thinking, and strengthen our democratic institutions while restoring public trust in our processes. Simultaneously we could also do with just trying to relax a little bit. I think about otters a lot. Not like an unreasonable amount, but it makes me smile when I do and it gets me through the day. I have a dog called Rufus. He's a very cheeky boy and I love him dearly even though he has gotten very good at stealing food off unsuspecting picnicers who believe he's just coming to say hi and get some strokes. Please do drop me a message if you would like some photos.
Jasmine Crosbie

Student, University of Cambridge

Hi! I am a Cambridge student and Laidlaw scholar whose research focuses on individual experiences of asexuality and mental health in the UK. 
Maja Anderson

Manager of Undergraduate Programs & International Experiences, Coordinator of the Laidlaw Program, Cornell University , Cornell University

Olivia Cheung

Student, Cornell University

Hi! My name is Olivia Cheung and I’m a rising junior at Cornell University. I’m majoring in Biological Sciences and minoring in Community Food Systems in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. I’m from Needham, MA. My research is on examining harmful algal blooms (HABs) in Lake Victoria, Kenya under Professor Peter McIntyre. I’m excited to be part of internationally-focused research and to analyze the impact of HABs on Lake Victoria’s ecosystem, food system, and the communities who depend on the lake for their nutrition and livelihood. I’m passionate about science, sustainability, environmental justice, and health and would love to chat with others interested in these topics!
Trisha Bhujle

Laidlaw Scholar, Laidlaw Foundation

Hello! I’m Trisha, a second-year student at Cornell University from Texas, USA. I’m majoring in Environment and Sustainability with a concentration in Food Systems, and minoring in International Relations, International Trade and Development, and Climate Change. My interests in combining my enduring passions for writing and wildlife conservation have driven me to explore multiple perspectives on highly-controversial issues such as trophy hunting, retaliatory animal killings, and illegal wildlife crime. Thus, during my first summer as a Laidlaw Scholar and as a member of the Morally Contested Conservation team, I wrote a literature review on the interconnectedness of climate change and human-wildlife conflicts in East and southern Africa — a project I plan to further during my LiA summer in Tanzania. As an aspiring environmental policymaker and journalist, I am passionate about making technical scientific information more accessible to the general public. At Cornell, I am an Institute of Politics and Global Affairs Scholar, through which I interact with policymakers monthly to discuss pervasive issues in international politics. I also speak Marathi, Spanish, and Swahili at varying levels of fluency and plan to continue to grow my language skills to communicate environmental issues across continents and cultures.  For fun, I love to turn even the most mundane materials into recycled art, spend hours on end working through jigsaw puzzles, and go for runs while listening to podcasts. And as a diehard foodie who loves to travel, I’m always looking for recommendations of places to visit or new recipes to try!  The Laidlaw Scholars Program has been an invaluable component of my undergraduate experience. The friendships I’ve made, as well as the research and language skills I’ve begun to develop, have encouraged me to continue to ask and seek answers to complicated questions about global affairs and environmental science. If anyone has questions about the Laidlaw Program, is interested in collaborating, or just wants to say hello, please feel free to email me at trb238@cornell.edu. I’d love to say hi, and I hope we can meet in person someday! Watch this video for a brief introduction to myself.
Eliza Wadell

Student, Cornell University

Hi, my name is Eliza Wadell. I am a junior studying Environment & Sustainability and Economics at Cornell University. As part of the Laidlaw Program, I spent this past summer conducting research on the impact of harmful algal blooms on consumer choices in Lake Victoria, Kenya under the mentorship of Dr. Kathryn Fiorella. 
Marcus Hill

Owner, Marcus Hill Consulting

I am the leadership developer for the University of Leeds. I am passionate about learning and ways in which we can all bring more of our true selves to work. I am keen to open dialogues about how leadership can be both effective and human in the 21st Century. My influences include a quote I learnt whilst studying to be a teacher at university "there is no liberating influence than the knowledge that things have not always been as they are and need not remain so." (Simon. B.) So, you can see that as leaders of the future Laidlaw Scholars can bring about positive and lasting change - and how great that is! My qualifications include: BEd Hons,, MSc, CIPD Dip, ILM L5 Coaching & Mentoring, PG Cert Counselling, FHEA. I am accredited to run Quintax personality profile, PPA, TMSDI Team Profile, EQi 2.0 Emotional Intelligence.
Isabella Whitney

Student, Barnard College of Columbia University

Lissette Lorenz

Graduate Student Mentor, Cornell University

Rucha Benare (she/her)

Biomedical engineering research student, Trinity College Dublin

I am interested in fields of mechanobiology, biohybrid prosthetics, biophysics, psychology, and philosophy. Recently in association with Laidlaw; In Cornell University (N.Y, U.S.A.) I worked on curating an art book on biomechanics for charity to raise awareness in this field of science. And in Trinity College Dublin (Ireland), we worked on developing a microphysiological model of the osteocytic network in the bone that can be used to better understand the (patho)physiology of bone using Direct Laser Writing technology using MLO-Y4 cell culture.  On the side; In ETH Zürich (Switzerland), I was working on understanding bio-hybrid muscle actuators using C2C12 cell culture literature review. At DogPatch Labs's Patch (Dublin, Ireland) I was experimenting with creating a start-up company to help amputees get affordable prosthetics.  On the (other) side; I like to dance, write, and read anything I get my hands on; be it music, poetry, or even shampoo bottles. Please feel free to contact me here or on LinkedIn for any discussions regarding the aforementioned topics!
At Cornell University, students across disciplines are passionate about changing the world. Open to first- and second-year students, the Laidlaw Undergraduate Research and Leadership Program provides generous support for student research, offers hands-on leadership development and reflection, and encourages students to reinvest their knowledge to help others succeed. Laidlaw Scholars are part of an international network of like-minded leaders.
Samuel Brooke

Student, University of Leeds

Studying Sustainability and Environment Management (International) MEnv, BSc at University of Leeds after a couple of years as a reporter. Interested in ecology, completed research project last year on the effects of honey trade on UK bees, now planning a Leadership in Action project.
Harrison Wilson

Biomedical Engineering Student, Tufts University

Aleksandra Czyzak

Medical Sciences BSc, UCL

Hello Everyone! My name is Aleksandra and I am a third-year undergraduate Medical Sciences student at University College London.  
Chan Yik Hei (Marco)

Student, The University of Hong Kong

Hello! I am a fourth-year undergraduate student majoring in chemistry at the University of Hong Kong. My research project was to develop an electrocatalytic method to upcycle chloride ions (Cl-) derived from polyvinyl chloride (PVC), a commonly used plastic product, into hypochlorite ions (OCl-), which is an active ingredient of bleach. Feel free to have a chat with me!
McKenzie Carrier

Student, Cornell University

I am a pre-law senior at Cornell double-majoring in Government and Spanish with minors in Law & Society, Latin American Studies, European Studies, and English. My research operates at the intersection of law, international relations, and migration studies. I spent my first Laidlaw summer with the Cornell Law School Xenophobia Meter Project, conducting an analysis of the efficacy of Spain's legal migrant-protection infrastructure through a primary-source analysis of UN communiques and relevant legal precedents. During my second summer, I traveled to Pamplona, Spain to collaborate with the UPNA as a Collaborative Governance, Radicalization, War, and Technology Intern.
Cici Zhou

Laidlaw Scholar, Cornell University

Liv Cramer

Scholar, Cornell University

Anne Moorhouse

Student , University of St Andrews

I am a History of Art student at the University of St Andrews. As part of the 2021 Laidlaw Scholars cohort, I will be researching, 'Das Unheimliche: Symbolism, Surrealism and the Art of Introspection'. For the past four years, I have been volunteering with English Heritage, where I began as a Learning Team Manager and room Explainer in Kenwood House. I am currently working as a Young Producer for the organisation's 'Shout Out Loud' programme. During my second year at St Andrews, I enjoyed writing for the university's Calliope Arts Journal. 
Makenna Ramsay

Student and scholar , Cornell University

I am a Senior at Cornell University studying Animal Science. I plan to pursue vet school after graduation or go to grad school. For fun, I like to train and show dogs, ride horses, read, travel, and spend time outside. I have grown in my research and leadership skills as a Laidlaw Scholar. I had an amazing experience traveling abroad to pursue a meaningful experience helping others.